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Commander Gaius is at Shadow Keep, Back Gate in Scaduview. To reach him, enter Shadow Keep through the Church District, pass through Storehouse, Back Section and Storehouse, Loft, then take the elevators down to the Back Gate. The O Mother gesture and nearby statue open a separate route to Hinterland; they are not needed to reach Gaius.
Before you travel to the Land of Shadow
To enter Shadow of the Erdtree, your save must have defeated both Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood. From the Cocoon of the Empyrean Site of Grace, interact with the cocoon to travel to the Land of Shadow. If you installed the expansion while already playing, return to the title screen first. After activating a Site of Grace in the Shadow Realm, you can use the map to travel between it and the Lands Between. These instructions come from the official Elden Ring access guide.
Route to Shadow Keep, Back Gate
From the wider DLC map, go through Moorth Ruins to Bonny Village. Travel east through the village, then head north to Shadow Keep’s Church District. From there, follow this route through the keep to the Back Gate. The route is described in PowerPyx’s guide to reaching Scaduview Hinterland.
- Reach Storehouse, Back Section. Work through the Church District until you reach the Storehouse, Back Section Site of Grace.
- Climb to Storehouse, Loft. Climb the ladder behind the grace. Continue upstairs, go through the opening in the right wall, and take the wooden stairs to Storehouse, Loft.
- Cross the storehouse beams. Take the elevator from Storehouse, Loft and cross the beams. At the north end, descend the ladders before taking the next elevator.
- Go outside and descend. Continue outdoors and take the elevators down to Shadow Keep, Back Gate.
- Enter the boss approach. From the Back Gate Site of Grace, follow the main approach ahead to reach Commander Gaius.
Do you need the O Mother gesture?
No. The statue room to the right of the Back Gate grace is a different route. Performing the O Mother gesture in front of its statue moves it and opens a passage to Hinterland, which leads toward areas including Shaman Ruins and the Finger Ruins of Dheo. The gesture is found on a corpse at the northeastern cliffside of Bonny Village. None of this is required for Gaius’s boss approach.
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![ELDEN RING - Shadow of the Erdtree - Xbox [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41oWZz2OeeL._SL160_.jpg)
- Playable on 21st June 2024.
- Pre-order now and get the following bonus content for the expansion: ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree Bonus Gesture
- Winner of hundreds of accolades including The Game Awards Game of the Year and Golden Joystick Awards Ultimate Game of the Year, ELDEN RING is the acclaimed action RPG epic set in a vast, dark fantasy world. Players embark on an epic quest with the freedom to explore and adventure at their own pace.
- The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion features an all-new story set in the Land of Shadow imbued with mystery, perilous dungeons, and new enemies, weapons and equipment.
- Discover uncharted territories, face formidable adversaries, and revel in the satisfying triumph of victory. Dive into the riveting interplay of characters, where drama and intrigue intertwine, that create an immersive experience to savor and enjoy.
What you need to play the expansion
The standalone expansion requires the Elden Ring base game. The official product page lists both standalone DLC and an edition that bundles the base game with the expansion. It also lists collector’s editions; contents, pricing and availability can vary by region and change over time. Check the edition and platform compatibility before purchasing.
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